Music

Surviving Doors members reject Morrison pardon

by Ciaran Thompson

The surviving members of The Doors as well as Jim Morrison’s family have rejected an official pardon granted to Morrison by the state of Florida earlier this month for a lewd and lascivious behavior charge. Morrison was arrested and charged after a concert in Miami in 1969 after he apparently swore and exposed himself to the audience.

Florida’s clemency board voted unanimously to grant Morrison the pardon after hearing from several witnesses who testified that they did not see him expose himself.

The Doors and Morrison’s family are seeking a formal apology from the state of Florida as well as the city of Miami saying he did not need “to be pardoned for anything” and that the charges “were largely an opportunity for grandstanding by ambitious politicians.”

After Morrison’s arrest the band had to cancel a 20-city tour. At the time of his death in 1971, Morrison was still appealing the charges. [Rolling Stone]